Reconstructing the final days of Mark Batin's life, Washington County sheriff's deputies have been able to make an arrest in connection with his slaying.
Deputies arrested Edgar C. Navarro, 24, and booked him into the Purgatory Jail on an outstanding second-degree felony warrant and for investigation of murder, a first-degree felony. His bail was set at $525,000 cash only. Navarro is expected to make an initial appearance today at 1:30 p.m. in 5th District Court.
"We believe he was the person responsible for Mark's death," Washington County Sheriff's Lt. Jake Adams said Thursday.
Batin, 27, was found shot to death in the desert near Utah Hill last month. His body was found near old Highway 91, about 10 miles from Beaver Dam, Ariz.
Three others have also been arrested in connection with Batin's slaying. Henry Cruz, 27, and Lydia Frausto, 25, were booked into the Purgatory Jail on investigation of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Bail was set at $100,000 each.
"They hindered our investigation," Adams said.
Cruz and Frausto join Chance Amidan, 21, is facing obstruction-of-justice charges and are accused of trying to cover up the crime. Amidan was arrested last month, accused of lying to police detectives.
Adams declined to reveal many details about the death but said there was a "dispute" that led to Batin's slaying.
"He was staying with some people and was involved in a dispute with them," Adams said. "He was intent on moving out and, essentially, this conflict escalated. Before he was able to move out, it resulted in violence."
The Washington County Drug Task Force helped in the arrests, and Batin's autopsy results reportedly indicated he had drugs in his system when he was killed.
Cruz made his first appearance Thursday afternoon in St. George's 5th District Court, where he was assigned an attorney. His next court appearance is Feb. 21 for a roll call hearing. Frausto is expected to make her initial appearance at 1:30 p.m. today.
Deputies would not rule out additional arrests in the case.
"It was just kind of good, solid police work on the part of our detectives," Adams said. "We used information we had obtained from the last known contact Mark had, tracked it back to the people he was with. We did interviews and reconstructed a timeline and the activities that happened on that evening."
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